The Young Captives: A Story of Judah and Babylon eBook

“Our young friend, peradventure, will be pleased
to see her brothers and cousin without any delay,
while Jupheena will accompany her father on an errand
of business at the house of an officer nearby.
Thou mayest inform thy brothers and cousin that we
shall call and see them presently.”

Perreeza embraced the opportunity, and, thanking the
officer with one of her peculiar smiles, hurried to
their apartment.

“Back again, precious Perreeza!” cried
Azariah, hastening to meet her. “And did
our sister see the king’s officer and his young
daughter, of whom Barzello spoke?”

“I did!” exclaimed his sister, while unusual
joy beamed in her countenance.

“And from thy countenance I am prepared to judge
that the interview has been a happy one,” said
her cousin Daniel.

“Never was there a happier interview, cousin.
The noble officer’s kindness is unbounded, and
his daughter is one of the loveliest beings I ever
beheld.”

“Perreeza, I trust, will not forget the kindness
of Barzello, in the warmth of her gratitude to her
new friend,” said Azariah.

“Never fear that, my dear brother. The
remembrance of Barzello’s kindness is too deeply
graven on Perreeza’s heart to be ever forgotten;
and while I remain under the roof of the king’s
officer, I shall daily become more and more deeply
indebted to the kind Barzello.”

“It must be that through his kind interposition
our beloved sister found so good a home,” said
Mishael, “and if this officer, under whose roof
she has found a shelter, partakes of the spirit of
Barzello, her home must be a happy one. Perreeza,
does he appear like unto our noble friend?”

“The very image of him!” said the sister,
laughing heartily. “Now, brothers and cousin,
let Perreeza undeceive you on this point. This
noble officer, whose house is to be my future home,
is none other than our own illustrious Barzello himself.
This truth was made known to me in a way that well-nigh
prostrated me. Oh, brothers, is not this delightful?”

“Praised be Jehovah!” broke from the lips
of the youths of Judah.

“For conversation we have but a short time,”
said Perreeza; “Barzello and his lovely Jupheena
are below, and will be here in a few moments, and
from hence I accompany them to their home. Hark
ye! I hear their footsteps.”

Barzello, with a smiling countenance, entered the
apartment, leading by the hand his beautiful daughter.
Perreeza ran to meet her young companion, while the
four youths were not wanting in appropriate obeisance
to the noble officer; all of which was closely watched
by the smiling young Chaldean maid.

“Have our young friends received any communications
from any of the king’s officers since our last
interview?”

“Thy servants have received no communication
from any source, since the departure of their kind
friend, about the ninth hour,” answered Daniel.

“To-morrow morning, peradventure, ye shall learn
the pleasure of the king in regard to your future
course; and I trust ye will find that our noble monarch
is not wholly unmindful of your former rank and station
in your own land.”